Goat Yoga Takes Off in The Valley
Goat yoga has taken off in many areas of the country. I guess it’s not enough to just stretch and bend your body in preposterous painful ways. Now, you need to put a small goat on your back while you’re doing it. I don’t understand it, but it’s becoming more and more popular.
Nanny Ridge Farms has been operating a successful goat farm for about 15 years in The Valley. They sell goats to buyers across the country, and they’re well known and respected across the country. In addition to breeding goats, they sell many goat products including goat milk (don’t tell the Dept. of Ag.), goat soaps, goat cheeses, goat jerky, and more.
Nanny Ridge Farms owner Billie Kidd said, “Our retail business at the farm has slowed recently. I think it has to do with Bidenomics and inflation. So, I was brainstorming on ways to get people out to the farm, and I ran across some videos on Tiktok with people doing goat yoga. I thought it was crazy to be honest with you. But, I thought that we could give it a try. Everyone loves baby goats, and you can mix in some yoga. What’s not to love?”
Kidd said, “I didn’t know anything about yoga, so I had to find someone that did. I started asking around, and everyone told me to contact Krishna Theegala. I was told she was the yoga instructor in The Valley. I contacted her, and she said she’d be happy to do some classes even though she’d never done goat yoga.”
Kidd added, “The first class attracted 9 ladies. It was a circus. The kids were kind of freaked out. They’d never had to stand on someone’s back for an extended period of time. I spent 80% of my time chasing the kids, and putting them back on the ladies’ backs. They did better in week 2, and they gotten even better the past couple weeks. Now, we’re up to about 25 ladies doing goat yoga, and I hope it’ll continue to grow.”
After the yoga sessions, Kidd provides cold goat milk along with charcuterie boards with her infused goat cheeses. Kidd said that his has helped her retail business a good deal. I talked with a couple yoga participants, and they love the goat yoga and refreshments. One said, “Honestly, I’m not crazy about the goat yoga. It really doesn’t feel good to have a goat walking on your back. But, the cold goat milk afterwards is so refreshing. I think I’m gonna keep coming back just for that. Another said, “The yoga is fun, and I love the little goats. But, Billie’s blueberry infused goat cheese is the best thing I’ve ever put in my mouth. So awesome!”
Kidd said the yoga sessions have been good for the farm. Currently, she only does one session per week, but she plans to add another session as the numbers continue to grow. Never tried goat yoga? Come on out to Nanny Ridge Farms and give it a try. Sample some of the goat milk and goat cheese while you’re at it.